Big In Print
Spirit Airlines Hit With $50K Fine for Violating DOT Ad Rules
Too Many Steps Between Tweet for $9 Tickets and All the Fine Print and Conditions
Always-classy Spirit Airlines, last seen on this site making jokes about the BP oil spill, is in trouble once again for its advertising. But this time around, it's not crappy advertising upsetting touchy consumers. It's deceptive advertising -- on Twitter, no less -- prompting the Department of Transportation to hit the airline with a $50,000 fee over some.
According to Consumer Reports, "DOT rules require all price advertisements for air travel to list the full price to be paid by the consumer, including all carrier-imposed surcharges."
But, as part of a campaign over the summer, "Spirit sent Twitter feeds announcing one-way fares for $9. A consumer who clicked on the link was taken to a second Webpage where the carrier disclosed for the first time that the fare did not include all taxes and fees, and that to qualify, a roundtrip ticket had to be purchased. Only after clicking on another link was the amount of additional taxes and fees disclosed."
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